re: Huge BR Zoo news from Councilwoman Chauna Banks---Will Cover edition

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Councilwoman Chauna Banks gave a presentation during the meeting. She says even though the topic of moving the zoo has been thrown around for two years, she wants the commission/Company she owns to do more research before making a decision.

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Fixed

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The people that are donating money for a new zoo are donating the money for a new zoo

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Who is donating money for a new zoo, and how much have they pledged?

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Brec does a damn good job overall.

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I disagree.

If you been involved in swimming, baseball, golf, or even gone to the current zoo you can see how things are neglected.

There's more than cutting the grass to maintaining a good park system.

I can't testify as to how well they keep up the various gyms, water parks, and other facilities because I haven't been to them recently. I know the soccer fields on Burbank are kept up, but the soccer association is involved there.

If I'm wrong, I stand corrected but in my life experiences I can't say BREC takes care of their properties like they should.

Oh well let's see

John Doe is going to give 300k in the name of....

Dude I don't know the donor list. I was responding to the idea of the donated money being used for something other than the zoo.

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It sounds like they are spending $100+ million either way.

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I'm glad to see we both think that's crazy. EBR doesn't have that kind of money to burn.

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I disagree about BREC, I use many of their assets on a regular basis and think they have made huge progress with recreational areas in this city over the past 10 years.

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Fair, I'm older, my experiences with BREC go farther back. If they are doing better, I'm happy to hear that.

But in all these zoo discussions, I keep hearing how bad the current zoo is. My family goes out there some and they tell me its in a state of disrepair. Fences need mending, exhibits need paint, etc.

I read Mary Manheim's letter to the Advocate outlining how BREC has not done right by the zoo. They haven't kept it up, and they have totally mismanaged it.

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I was responding to the idea of the donated money being used for something other than the zoo.

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And I was responding to those who keep telling us about all these donors who want the zoo in SBR. I'd like to know how much they are donating, and who they are.

That's all.

Seeing is believing.

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Chauna Banks is a moron. It's people like her who call themselves "city leaders" who are responsible for BR's lack of progress

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Chauna Banks is a typical liberal.

Instead of debating on whether we should be spending 140 million dollars on zoos and parks, she is spinning the argument to an us versus them and she's trying to capture as much of the 140 million as she can to spend on her "people".

At least I give her credit for speaking up, I don't see any SBR leaders doing anything. I'd hope some of them would speak up and say what the hell are we doing, and why are we wanting to spend 140 million on a park and a zoo when we have huge traffic issues, and under funded police dept., sewer bills to pay, and a myriad of other problems.

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Fair, I'm older, my experiences with BREC go farther back. If they are doing better, I'm happy to hear that.

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I think this is where our difference of opinion lies. I am not an increase tax guy at all, but BREC is one of the few things I pay taxes for that I feel I get a tangible benefit from. Whether it be the splash pads, park in my neighborhood, Olympia, dog training lakes at burbank, or the LSU lakes, we use them multiple times a week.

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But in all these zoo discussions, I keep hearing how bad the current zoo is. 

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I think this is further evidence that the location will not work. They simply cannot generate revenue where it is. BREC has shown that they will invest in assets that are actually valued by the taxpayers but you can only throw so much money into a money pit.

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I think this is where our difference of opinion lies. I am not an increase tax guy at all, but BREC is one of the few things I pay taxes for that I feel I get a tangible benefit from. Whether it be the splash pads, park in my neighborhood, Olympia, dog training lakes at burbank, or the LSU lakes, we use them multiple times a week

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I'm happy to hear that. My grand kids use the parks too. I pay a lot of taxes for that, and if the money is spent wisely, then that's good.

I use to do baseball, how are the baseball diamonds?

I use to golf at City, Webb, Greenwood and Howell. I know Howell closed, but how are the other courses.

I use to play rec hoops. Those gyms were OK. I hope they still are. I know a lot of kids and young adults play basketball. That's a good investment because gyms have multiple uses.

We just disagree on the zoo. I think a zoo commission would be better suited than BREC to be in charge.

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It's people like her who call themselves "city leaders" who are responsible for BR's lack of progress.

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As much as it pains me, Chauna Banks and people like her aren't the reason Baton Rouge is dying. It's the people who elect people like Chauna Banks that are the reason. Baton Rouge doesn't have a politician problem. It has a dumb motherfricker problem. If it didn't have a dumb motherfricker problem, it would elect competent leaders.

But it doesn't.